Good news, bad news for superintendent
The Worcester district attorney's office says it will not pursue a criminal case against the Harvard school system over questionable special-education payments. But even as Superintendent Thomas Jefferson hopes to put the matter to rest and move on, potential new trouble has surfaced against the embattled school chief.
A Harvard parent, Robert Harrah, said he has filed a complaint with the state's Criminal History Systems Board, alleging that Jefferson discussed his criminal record with another parent, in violation of Criminal Offender Record Information, or CORI, rules. Harrah said he complained that Jefferson discussed his record, which includes arrests in 1974 and 1981 that led to fines, during a conversation at a middle school dance last November.
The School Department had conducted a background check on Harrah last year before he was allowed to chaperone a class field trip, he said.
B.J. Pessia, a Harvard parent and chaperone at the Nov. 9 dance, said Jefferson brought up Harrah's record during a conversation that evening. She said she and the superintendent were watching a parent dancing wildly when she joked about the antics of Harvard parents. She said Jefferson then brought up Harrah, describing him as a partier. Harrah was not at the dance.
"He made it clear that Robert was a wild man," Pessia said in an interview last week. "He said how he had to overlook the CORI report so Robert could go on a field trip. He didn't know me at all. I was amazed at how easily it came out of his mouth."
In an interview last week, Jefferson said he did attend the dance but did not remember the conversation.
"I don't have a recollection of that," he said, adding he is aware of the CORI regulations and of Harrah's allegation.
Harrah's is the latest in a string of complaints against the school administration, one of which was dismissed last week.
The district attorney's office had been investigating the legality of special-education payments to a former School Committee member for his child's tuition at a school not approved by the state for special-education services. Spokesman Tim Connolly said the office started the probe several months ago after receiving a tip about the payments.
"We found no basis for a criminal charge," Connolly said Thursday.
Jefferson said he was not surprised.
"I'm naturally pleased to have this finding," he said. "My actions have always been in the best interest of the children and the best financial interest of the district. I'm happy to have this resolved with the district attorney."
Separately, two complaints have been filed with the state Ethics Commission related to the special-education payments.
One was filed in June by Margaret Grogan, a School Department employee, who contends she was unfairly demoted by Jefferson. Grogan, who previously worked as a secretary in the special-education department, said she typed up an agreement last year between the superintendent and a School Committee member that struck her as inappropriate. She said the agreement called for the district to reimburse the committee member for his child's tuition payments at a private boarding school. She said the agreement called for reimbursing him $15,000 a year for four years. The committee member has since moved out of state.
Grogan said that after word got out about the agreement, Jefferson accused her of blowing the whistle. She said she has been transferred twice and her annual salary is now $10,000 less.
The second complaint to the Ethics Commission, filed by another resident, also questioned the payments.
Jefferson said he could not comment on the payments to the former committee member or on Grogan's job transfer.
The school chief, who signed a four-year contract with the district two years ago, recently received a one-year extension from the School Committee, angering some residents. The residents, who say the committee should not have extended Jefferson's contract while the investigations were taking place, have filed a citizens petition to censure the board at this week's Special Town Meeting. The petition is one of the articles on the meeting warrant Wednesday.
It remains to be seen whether the latest allegation against Jefferson would have any bearing on the petition. Harrah said he has not contacted the School Committee about his complaint.
Following the November incident, Pessia said she was not sure how to handle the situation at first but eventually told Harrah about her conversation with Jefferson in April. Harrah then filed a complaint with the Criminal History Systems Board, and Pessia submitted an affidavit in support.
"Sharing CORI is a big deal," Harrah said last week. "I thought, if he's doing it with me, he's doing it with other people."
Terrel Harris, a spokesman for the state board, confirmed receipt of the complaint but said he could not comment on the status of the investigation.
According to state law, individuals who work or volunteer with schoolchildren must undergo a background check. Harris said the information is supposed to remain confidential.
"The general rules are [the board] approves an entity to receive CORI for a specific purpose and that is the only reason for which they can use the information," he said in an e-mail. "CORI can't be shared with any other parties for any other reason."
Harris said the penalty for improperly releasing CORI information is a $500 fine. The issue can also be referred to the court system if criminal conduct is involved, he said.
Harrah said he had wanted to handle the matter quietly but was upset when he learned from the board that Jefferson maintained that he did not remember the conversation.
"It's a completely unacceptable response," Harrah said.
Initially, Harrah was hoping for an apology; now he wants Jefferson fired.
Harrah's criminal record stems from incidents in 1974 and 1981. He did not serve any jail time but paid several fines. Charges include disturbing the peace, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and malicious destruction of property.
Jennifer Fenn Lefferts can be reached at jflefferts@yahoo.com.
